heavy industry

American  

[he-vee in-duh-stree] / ˈhɛ vi ˈɪn də stri /

noun

heavy industries plural

1. a manufacturing sector or activity that uses relatively large amounts of power, equipment, and space, typically having a significant environmental impact and producing raw materials or large-scale industrial goods such as steel, cement, or chemicals (contrasted with light industry).

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• heavy industrial
  adjective
• heavy-industry
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• heavy industries
  plural

Example Sentences

An 85-mile stretch of Louisiana, running southeast from Baton Rouge, hosts such a concentration of heavy industry that it long ago garnered the nickname “Cancer Alley.”

From Salon • May 10, 2026

Germany’s economy is one of Europe’s most vulnerable to the latest energy shock because it has shifted more slowly away from fossil fuels and depends more on power-guzzling heavy industry.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

"A lot of people think that asbestos is a historical problem caused by heavy industry, Rick's case really does prove that's not the case," she said.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

Making its production cleaner and more competitive with fossil based hydrogen could accelerate its use not only in heavy industry, but also as a way to store excess renewable energy.

From Science Daily • Feb. 26, 2026

It was used in heavy industry to render other compounds like refined gasoline or polyvinyl chloride for plastic pipe production.

From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin